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On July 30, Drake and Gordo released the music video for their collaborative song Healing from the latter's album Diamante. The video, directed by Theo Skudra in South Africa, showed the pair generously gifting Emmanuel Madonsela, a South African TikToker under the moniker The Don Madfunz, with a car he could use to travel to work.
While neither Drake nor Gordo showed up in the Healing music video in person, the latter appeared on FaceTime to talk to Madonsela.
"Your story just, like I can't, like I've been thinking about it nonstop, you know? And it means so much to me knowing how much effort you put into your life and your family. I really love it, and I just wanted to do something to help, brother. That's all," he says in the video.
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The heartfelt gesture stirred emotions on social media. Many hip-hop fans were moved by the MV, with one person tweeting:
More people joined in on the praise, applauding Drake and Gordo for creating a music video that was wholesome and impactful.
"This is a beautiful video So impactful," one person tweeted.
"thank you for this perfectly wholesome video and song , WHIT this (i) can now truly begin," another person added.
"Word to @GordoSZN and @Drake the Healing video is so inspirational," a user said.
"Make sure you and Drake link again the people want it," another netizen commented.
Others appreciated Gordo for positively highlighting South Africa in the Healing MV.
"GORDO!! You have NO IDEA what’s about to happen to you next! This video is so heartwarming and we, as South Africans, are about to rubber-stamp and mark you as one of our own because of this beautiful gesture! Your new South African name is KHANYA! SA STAND UP!!!," a netizen tweeted.
"Thank you for the roots representation in the video.." another person added.
"wait till South Africans wake up and see this," another user wrote.
The idea behind the Healing MV explored
Gordo, who previously went by Carnage, explained the idea behind the music video for Healing in the YouTube description. He explained that he stumbled on Emmanuel Madonsela's TikTok account on accident about two months ago and was blown away by his "dancing, smile and story."
He added that Madonsela would walk 9 miles to work daily to provide for his family and dreamed of owning a car to make the commute easier. Madonsela's story provoked him to do something to help ease the man's burdens.
“With this video, I wanted to show that Don’s positive attitude and joyful spirit are something we can all learn from, no matter what we’re going through. His story is a reminder that even when life gets tough, you can still find reasons to smile. I hope this video touches your hearts like it did mine,” Gordo wrote.
The Healing music video was filmed in Dududu, a rural area outside of Durban, a coastal city in South Africa. The MV, which details Madonsela's life, opens with him describing his family's daily routine of commuting to work.
The video also showed Madonsela and his family members, Nonhlakanipho Sangweni, Sthembile Sangweni, and Nokwazi Sangweni, dancing to the song before they were surprised with the car.
Healing was one of two tracks from Diamante that featured Drake. The other song was Sideways, the second track from the album, released on July 26, 2024.
Gordo and Drake are frequent collaborators. The Guatemalan DJ produced songs on Drake's albums, including Honestly, Nevermind (2022) and For All the Dogs (2023).
